(1)

On 28 February 2017, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2017/418 (1) on the conclusion of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (2) (the ‘Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 10 May 2017.

(2)

The previous protocol on the implementation of the Agreement expired on 16 December 2024.

(3)

On 23 September 2024, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Government of the Cook Islands for a new protocol on the implementation of the Agreement. The negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling, on 20 June 2025, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (2025-2032) (the ‘Protocol’).

(4)

The aim of the Protocol is to allow Union vessels to fish in the fishing zone of the Cook Islands, to enable the Union and the Government of the Cook Islands to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in the fishing zone of the Cook Islands and in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, and to contribute to the creation of decent working conditions in the fishing industry.

(5)

The Protocol should therefore be signed.

(6)

In view of the economic importance of the Union fishing activities in the Cook Islands’ fishing zone and of the need to minimise the time during which such activities are interrupted, the Protocol should apply on a provisional basis as from the date of its signature.

(7)

As the Protocol covers more than one financial year, the related budgetary commitments may be broken down into annual instalments over the duration of the Protocol, in accordance with Article 112(2) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).

(8)

The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and delivered an opinion on 11 November 2025 (5),